Diversidade parasitária do intestino delgado de Saimiri sciureus de vida livre na região urbana do município de Belém, Pará

Abstract

There are approximately 133 species of non-human primates in Brazilian territory, of which 80 are found in the Amazon territory. Various species of neotropical primates can be found in the Rodrigues Alves Botanical Garden in Amazônia, as this place is an important representativo of a conservation and preservation environment. These primate species are potential hosts for helminths from various phyla, such as Nematoda, Platyhelminthes and Acanthocephala. The aim of this study is to investigate which helminths occur in Saimiri sciureus from the Rodrigues Alves Botanical Garden in Amazônia, and to describe the histological changes that occur in the intestino of S. sciureus due to the parasitic interaction of these helminths with the intestino. The specimens of S. sciureus were donated by the Rodrigues Alves Botanical Garden of Amazônia, to the Animal Pathology Laboratory (LABOPAT) of the Federal Rural University of Amazônia, after being found dead. These specimens were submitted to necroscopic examination to determine their cause of death. In the small intestino, the presence of helminths from the Nematoda, Platyhelminthes and Acanthocephala phyla were detected. The helminths were fixed in 10% buffered formalin. The parasitized intestino samples were sent to the Histology and Embryology Laboratory (LHEA) at the Federal Rural University of Amazônia to identify the helminths and describe the histological changes using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The nematodes found parasitizing the small intestino of S. sciureus exhibited characteristics of the Family Oxyuridae and the Genus Trypanoxyuris. The platyhelminth helminths belonged to the Cestoda Class, while the acanthocephalan helminths were diagnosed as belonging to the Prosthenorchis Genus. These helminths were responsible for inducing serious morphological changes in the intestinos of the hosts. From the light microscopy analysis of the intestinos parasitized by Prosthenorchis, it was possible to identify the helminth anchored in the mucosal layer, passing through the underlying layers until it reached the muscular layer. Scanning electron microscopy made it possible to analyze the externai morphological characteristics of the helminth and the details of the tissue lesions caused by them. The helminths from the Nematoda and Platyhelminthes phyla will need to be subjected to more in-depth analysis to diagnose the helminth species. The Acanthocephala showed characteristics of the Prosthenorchis elegans species. This helminth is responsible for severo morphological changes and for impairing the vital function of the parasitized organ in S. sciureus.